NABJ Congratulates Lester Holt as moderator of first 2016 presidential debate

FILE - In this Oct. 28, 2015, file photo, NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt arrives at the 9th Annual California Hall of Fame induction ceremonies at the California Museum, in Sacramento, Calif. It's about to be a family affair at 30 Rock for NBC News anchor Lester Holt and his son, Stefan Holt, who soon will be anchoring a weekday newscast on the network’s New York station, it was announced Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. (Jose Luis Villegas/The Sacramento Bee via AP, Pool, File)
In this Oct. 28, 2015, file photo, NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt arrives at the 9th Annual California Hall of Fame induction ceremonies at the California Museum, in Sacramento, Calif.(Jose Luis Villegas/The Sacramento Bee via AP, Pool, File)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – NABJ congratulates Lester Holt, NABJ Journalist of the Year and anchor of “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” on being selected as the moderator for the first 2016 presidential debate.
Holt will moderate the first debate on Sept. 26 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. The commission also announced today that Martha Raddatz of ABC and Anderson Cooper of CNN will moderate the town hall debate on Oct. 9; and Chris Wallace of Fox News will moderate the final debate on Oct. 19.
All of the 2016 moderators are first-time presidential debate moderators. CBS News correspondent Elaine Quijano will moderate the vice-presidential debate on Oct. 4.
“NABJ is pleased that the Commission on President Debates selected Lester for this important role and for ensuring that diverse voices are at the table to lead the discussion. We know that Lester will do an exemplary job as moderator, and that the public will learn more about the two nominees,” said NABJ President Sarah Glover.
“As an advocacy organization, we have continued to champion diversity inclusion. Just four years ago, black journalists and journalists of color were not selected for the moderator roles. While we celebrate Lester and Elaine Quijano’s participation, it is unfortunate that a Latino journalist won’t be represented in a moderator position this year.”
Holt follows in the great footsteps of NABJ members Bernard Shaw, co-moderator of the 1988 presidential debate and vice presidential debate in 2000; Carole Simpson, the only Black woman to moderate a presidential debate in 1992; and Gwen Ifill, moderator of the vice presidential debate in 2004 and 2008.
About the National Association of Black Journalists:
An advocacy group established in 1975 in Washington, D.C., NABJ is the largest organization for journalists of color in the nation, and provides career development as well as educational and other support to its members worldwide.

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